When Oakdale Mayor Cherilyn ‘Cher’ Bairos learned she had been named 2026 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 9 by Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora, her first reaction was shock.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Bairos said. “But right after that initial surprise, I felt incredibly humbled and grateful.”

The honor, presented on March 16 at the State Capitol in Sacramento, places Bairos among a select group of women recognized for their leadership and service throughout Assembly District 9, which includes Oakdale, Riverbank, Waterford, Copperopolis, La Grange and several surrounding valley communities.

In addition to serving as mayor, Bairos is also CEO of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, giving her a unique role at the heart of both civic and business life in the community.

For Bairos, the recognition is deeply meaningful – but not because she sees it as an individual achievement.

“It made me reflect on the people and community that have supported me along the way, because this recognition doesn’t feel like something I achieved alone,” she said. “It’s a reminder of why I do this work.”

She is especially grateful, she added, for her wife, Jeanine, “who cares for things at home so I can serve the community I love so much.”

For Bairos, public service was never a sudden decision. It was a dream that began in childhood.

She remembers being just four years old, watching parades with her mother and grandmother and noticing the mayor in each one. Even then, she said, she felt drawn to the role.

“In every parade, there was a mayor – and everyone seemed so happy, so connected,” she recalled. “Even at that age, I remember thinking, someday, I want to be mayor.”

That sense of calling stayed with her. In 2012, after moving into the city limits, she was asked to manage a campaign for a friend. But after thinking it over, she realized she wanted to run herself.

“The very next day, I called back and said I wasn’t going to manage the campaign – I was going to run for the other seat myself,” she said.

Though she lost that first race, Bairos said she never let go of the belief that she would run again.

That determination – and her gift for building relationships – has shaped her leadership ever since.

“From a very young age, I was taught the importance of being an active participant in my community,” she said. “As I grew into adulthood, I came to understand that my greatest strength is connection.”

That connection, she said, has grown through nonprofit involvement, civic engagement, and her work bringing together the many “micro-communities” that make up Oakdale. Whether she is attending city events, supporting local businesses, celebrating family milestones or standing beside residents during difficult moments, Bairos said the most meaningful part of serving as mayor has been simply being present.

“Some of the most memorable moments have come from simply being present – attending school events, supporting local businesses, celebrating milestones with families, and standing alongside residents during both joyful and challenging times,” she said.

Bairos describes Oakdale in three words: community, pride and tradition.

Those values are also deeply tied to her identity, she explained.

“Being a native Oakdalean with strong roots in the Portuguese community has really shaped both who I am and how I lead,” Bairos said. “My heritage instilled in me the importance of family, hard work, faith, and showing up for others.”

She credits her parents, grandparents and brother as some of her greatest influences. Her parents, she said, gave her unwavering support and encouragement, while her grandparents passed down values and life lessons she still carries with her. She also speaks with admiration about her brother, a battalion fire chief.

“He is truly my hero,” she said. “His bravery, selflessness, and dedication have taught me what it means to serve others and to be strong in the face of challenges.”

Bairos said leadership has also taught her the importance of adaptability, listening and accepting that no leader can please everyone.

“Early on, I thought leadership was mostly about having the right answers, but I’ve come to realize it’s more about being open to others’ perspectives and adjusting when situations change,” she said. “I’ve learned that I can’t please everyone, but I sure do the best I can for the greater good.”

That lesson is part of what she hopes the next generation – especially young women – takes from her example.

“I hope my work shows the next generation that they are capable of stepping into leadership roles and making a meaningful impact in their communities,” she said. “You don’t have to fit a certain mold to lead.”

For Bairos, the award is more than a title. It is a reflection of the town that raised her, the people who shaped her, and the values she strives to carry forward every day.

In many ways, it is also the fulfillment of a childhood dream: a little girl at a parade, watching the mayor pass by, already imagining a future in service to the town she loved.